The future is forward in time from the present and yet to come. After the publication of Alvin Tofflers Future Shock in 1970, the phenomenon of radical change entered the consciousness of people all over the world. Since the break-up of the family in the 70's, religion was no longer considered the solid Rock of ages that it used to be. People felt that God is either dead or just doesn't want to get involved. During this era of convulsive change and computerized information, institutions were increasingly viewed as incompetent, irrelevant, and illegitimate, and attacked, circumvented, revamped, and replaced with conservative icons tied to the past. Cynicism was everywhere and the estimation of the future became very bleak.

Historians are fond of saying the study of the past can help us to understand the future and if we don't, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. A man of wisdom is interested in facts only so that he can use them in the future. Identifying the potential crises of the future so that they can be avoided is the main function of futuristics.

The hope that we have as Christians is in our future heavenly calling. Those who have died in the Lord and gone to Heaven have no hope for the future for they have already realized their greatest aspirations. Departed saints are in Heaven right now, they need not await the resurrection of the dead and will not be a part of the judgment. The future is different for most Christians that are not yet sanctified. Non-sanctified Christians should have hope for the future in the blessed fact that they will inherit the earth. If you want to go to Heaven, you had better get sanctified.

The study of prophecy in the Bible is to study the future. When Jesus gave the Olivet discourse of Matthew 24, His disciples asked Him when certain things shall be and of the signs of His coming. Jesus told them of future events of the end times that we are now living. He also told them of future events that had its fulfilment in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The best validation of a prophet is that whatever is prophesied as to the future has in fact come to pass. The fact is, that everything that Jesus told of the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem did in fact happen as He said and it will be the same in these days according to His word. Other prophecies concerning the last days and the future are coming to pass in front of our eyes even now. The future is here. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." [274]

The Lord has given Christians the grace to reconcile the children to their Fathers